Electric massager

ABSTRACT

An electric massager adapted for use in a wet environment having a housing enclosing an electric motor for rotating an eccentric which vibrates a massaging element on the exterior of the housing. Batteries in the housing supply power to the motor and an inertia switch, which is actuated by striking the housing, controls the energization of the motor.

United States Patent Inventors Donald L. Blachly Glendale; Margaret M.Edwards, Milwaukee; Willi I K. Haeaelicli, Waukesha, all 01, Wis. Appl.No. 800,046 Filed Feb. 14, 1969 Patented ,lune 2 2. 1 971 Assignee JohnOuter Manufacturing Co.

Milwaukee, Wis.

ELECTRIC MASSAGE]! 20 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 128/36, ZOO/61.53 lnt.Cl A61h 1/00 Fieldoi Search 128/32, 36,41,6S;200/61.45,61.53,6 l.52

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g l ,6'3 .99 i 1 \9 21 8 Primary Examiner-L. W. Trapp Attorney-George R.Clark ABSTRACT: An electric massager adapted for use in a wetenvironment having a housing enclosing an electric motor for rotating aneccentric which vibrates a massaging element on the exterior of thehousing. Batteries in the housing supply power to the motor and aninertia switch, which is actuated by striking the housing, controls theenergization of the motor.

age; 60

85% x ,7 i I l- "I a 73 i 5-7? 7- 59E n 44:; T a 7 iii 82 --l- J 25ELECTRIC MASSAGER 1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates in general to electric massagers and more particularly tobattery operated massagers which are adapted for use in the shower orbathtub to aid in the shampooing'of the user's hair as well as massagingthe user's face and body.

Electric massagers are frequently used in the home for stimulating theusers scalp as well as massaging the face and body to relax and tone themuscles. Due to safety consideration, electric massagers having a powercord connectable to a household electric outlet are not used when aperson is in a wet environment such as taking a shower or bath. However,in many instances, it is desirable to operate a massager under suchconditions. For an example, an electric massager would be most helpfulwhen shampooing the scalp because the massager with the proper massagingattachment can gently loosen dandruff and work the soap into a desirablelather. To thoroughly clean their hair, many people prefer to let thelather remain on their scalp for two or three minutes before rinsing.Under these circumstances a massager could not only work the soap intothe hair but also provide an invigorating massage. Since many peopleshampoo their hair while taking a shower, such an electric massagingdevice must be completely safe and also must be arranged so that watercannot damage or interfere with its performance. Moreover, such aproduct would be soothing to use on the face or body muscles whilesoaking in a tub of hot water.

Inasmuch as an electric massager must have a switch to control theoperation of the device, the switch should be disposed so that it can beeasily actuated even when the user has their eyes closed to keep soapfrom coming into contact therewith. Such a device should not be affectedby the wet environment, and preferably the switch should be totallyenclosed within the massager housing without any actuating meansextending through the housing.

Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to anelectrically operated massager which can safely be used in a wetenvironment having a housing with a massaging element on its exteriorand enclosing an electric motor for vibrating the element. Disposedwithin the housing are battery means for supplying power to the motorand an inertia switch electrically connecting the battery means and themotor for controlling the same. The inertia switch is closed byimpacting the housing in one direction, and the switch is opened by thehousing being struck from the opposite direction. Another aspect of theinvention relates to the manner in which the parts are organized andcooperate with each other.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anelectric massager which can safely be used in a wet environment andwhich is easily manufactured.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery operatedmassager having a totally enclosed inertia switch which is actuated byimpacting the housing.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds and the features ofnovelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisspecification.

Brief Description of the Drawing For a better understanding of thepresent invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing inwhich:

. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electric massager embody ing thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the massager;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the massager with the lower portion ofthe housing, electric lead wires, and the batteries removed;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the battery contact plate withthe locking screw shown in broken lines for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the inertia switch with the pendulummember and contact springs shown in solid lines in the open position andshown in broken lines in the closed position;

FIG. 6 is an exploded assembly view of the massager in the invertedposition with the batteries removed; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to the drawing inwhich like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views,an electric massager is generally designated by the reference numeral 20and includes a housing 21 preferably molded from a suitable plasticwhich is electrically nonconducting and a massaging element orattachment 22 mounted thereon. More specifically, the housing 21comprises a lower or hand grasping portion 25 and an upper or attachmentportion 26. The lower housing portion 25 has a somewhat sphericalsection 29 at the bottom of which is a somewhat mushroom-shaped section30 having a relatively thin stem 32 merging into a relatively largepedestal 33 with a ring-shaped flat surface 35 adapted for supportingthe massager 20 when in its upright storage position as shown in F I68".1 and 2. The lower housing portion 25 can be molded integrally or asshown in FIG. 2, the spherical section 29 can be molded separately fromthe mushroom section 30 and joined together by some suitablemanufacturing technique such as using a solvent which fuses the plasticparts together. As used in this specification the relative terms such asupper, lower, top, bottom, etc. are for convenience purposes only andrefer to the massager in the upright storage position.

In use, the massager 20 can be easily and firmly grasped by the userwith the user's hand positioned so that the fingers extend on both sidesof the stem 32 and the users fingers and palm grasping the sphericalsection 29. Such a grip cannot be easily loosened even when therelatively smooth plastic housing 21 is wet or covered with soapy water.This is to say, the

users grip on the massager is facilitated by the fingers being disposedbetween the pedestal 33 and the spherical section 29 so that thegrasping of the spherical section tends to force the top of the fingersagainst the pedestal 33.

As may be conveniently seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the attachment housingportion 26 has a somewhat spherical sidewall 37 which is complementaryto the lower spherical section 29. Moreover, the housing portion 26includes a raised relatively flat upper wall 39 around which is disposedan annular locking rib 40. The upper housing portion 26 may beintegrally molded or the sidewall 37 can be made separately from theupper wall 39 and subsequently being joined together by use of asuitable solvent which welds the plastic pieces together. In the presentembodiment, the latter approach is utilized.

Mounted to the upper housing wall 39 is the massaging attachment 22which is recessed to abut against the wall 39 and locked in position byreceiving the locking rib 40 in a complementary groove 41. Preferably,the attachment 22 is fabricated from a rather resilient material such asrubber whereby the attachment may be easily stretched to permit the rib40 to enter into the groove 41. A plurality of resilient massagingfingers 44 extend away from the upper wall 39 and are adapted to gentlymassage the users scalp. It should be appreciated that the removableattachment 22 can be replaced by other attachments which arespecifically designed for use on the user's face or the users body.

To firmly unite the upper and lower housing portions 25 and 26, theupper portion 26 is provided with screw threads 43 which cooperate withthreads 44 on portion 25. In order to prevent moisture from enteringinto the housing 21, a resilient O-ring 47 is disposed between the twoportions 25 and 26 so that as the two portions are screwed together theyclamp against the O-ring 47. a

Referring now to FIG. 3 it may be seen that the upper housing portion 26includes internal wall means 50 comprising two battery clamping portions52, circular motor receiving portion 53 at the edge of which is avertically extending groove portion 55, reenforcing portion 56, switchsupporting wall portions 58 and 59. and a roof portion 60 which extendshorizontally in the area defined by the battery clamping portions 52 andthe motor receiving portion 53. For the purpose of vibrating theattachment 22 the housing 21 is provided with an electric motor assembly63 including a direct current 3 volt I ampere motor 65 having a driveshaft 66 on which is a drive pinion 67 in driving engagement with .aneccentric 70 which is rotatably supported by a stationary shaft 72 whichis rigidly locked to the electric motor 65 by means of a setscrew 73. Ascan be seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, the eccentric 70 includes an integraI gear75 which is in driven engagement with the pinion 67 whereby as the motordrive shaft 66 rotates, the eccentric 70 rotates on shaft 72. Inasmuchas the eccentric is out of balance with respect to shaft 72, therotation of the eccentric generates unbalanced forces on the shaft 72.The electric motor assembly 63 is assembled to the upper housing portion26 so that the electric motor 65 is received within the wall portion 53,and the motor 65 is firmly held against the roof portion 60 by means ofa resilient U-shaped bail 77 which is anchored to the roof portion andbiases the motor against the roof portion. The upper end of shaft 72 isreceived within a bearing 79 formed integrally with the upper wall 39.It should be noted that the shaft 72 lies along the longitudinal axis ofthe massager 20 and is disposed at the center of the upper wall 39.Thus, as the eccentric 70 is rotated by the electric motor 65 unbalancedforces are transmitted to the upper wall 39 for vibrating the attachment22.

For supplying power to the electric motor assembly63 the housing 21 isprovided with two dry cell batteries 82 and 83 which are preferably ofthe standard C-size 1.5 volt. These batteries are received in clampingportions 52 and are oppositely oriented as shown in FIG. 7 in order thatthey may cooperate with each other in supplying electrical power bymeans of lead wires to the electric motor 65. An electric contact 85 foreach battery is positioned within the clamping portions 52 adjacent tothe roof portion 60 wherein the full insertion of the batteries withinthe portions 52 forces them to make an electrical connection with thecontacts 85.

Turning our attention to the lower housing portion 25 and to FIGS. 2 and4, it may be seen that an electrically conducting cup-shaped plate 88 issecured to the portion 25 by means of screw 89. The plate 88 has adoughnut-shaped flange 91 and a downwardly spaced central disc 92 at thecenter of which is a key-shaped opening 93. Extending upwardly from theflange 91 are four spaced protuberances 95 which are spaced in such amanner that two of the protuberances are in alignment with the center ofbatteries 82 and 83. The inside of the lower housing portion 25 isformed with an annular collar 98 within which is an upstandingprojection 99 which has a key-shaped configuration complementary to theplate opening 93 so that the projection 99 can extend therethrough. Dueto the irregular configuration of the opening 92 and the projection 99,the plate 88 is not permitted to rotate with respect to the lowerhousing portion 25 once the screw 89 is locked into threaded engagementwith the projection 99 wherein the head of the screw limits the upwardtravel of the plate 88. Positioned below the plate 88 and surroundingthe projection 99 is a coil spring 102 for biasing the plate 88 upwardlytowards the batteries 82 and 83. There is sufficient clearance betweenthe plate opening 93 and the projection 99 to permit the plate 88 topivot vertically. The threads 43 and 44 are oriented with respect to thehousing portions 25 and 26 whereby once these portions are assembledtogether, the center of each battery is in alignment with one of theprotuberances. Therefore, when it is necessary to insert batteries intothe massager 20, the lower housing portion 25 is unscrewed from upperhousing portion 26 providing access to the inside of the housing 21. As

indicated hereinbefore, two batteries are inserted into the clampingportions 52 with the batteries oppositely oriented. Once the batteriesare in position, the housing portions are again screwed together duringwhich time the plate 88 is forced into contact with the batteries. Sinceduring the threading operation the housing portions are rotating withrespect to one another, the plate protuberances 95 strike laterallyagainst the ends of the batteries. Inasmuch as the plate 88 is pivotableand is spring-biased upwardly, the plate can easily deflect permittingthe batteries to be rotated downwardly into proper engagement with theplate 88. After the housing portions are secured together the spring 102forces the plate protuberances 95 into engagement with the center of thebatteries. Thus, good electrical contact is insured even if thebatteries have recessed center portions because the protuberances 95extend above the flange 91. It should also be appreciated that the plate88 biases the batteries against contacts 85 and towards roof portion 60with the result that the batteries are tightly held to prevent them frombeing loosely vibrated due to the rotation of eccentric 70.

To control the operation of the electric motor assembly 63, an inertiaswitch assembly 110 is positioned within the housing 21. The electricalswitch assembly 110 includes a plastic electrically nonconductive frame112 having three large projections 114, 115 and 116 and six smallprojections 118, 119, 120, 121, 122 and 123 extending from one side ofthe frame and a straight rib 125 projecting from the other side of theframe. An electrically conductive switch cam or pendulum 127 having asomewhat T-shaped configuration defined by legs 128 and 129 is pivotallymounted on projection 114 so that the pendulum may swing through an arcgoverned by the pendulum leg 128 moving between projections 115 and 116.To lessen the friction between the frame 112 and the pendulum 127, theframe is molded with an arcuate ridge 131 disposed immediately below thependulum leg 129. Leg 129 is formed with a periphery 132 having a notch133. To complete the switch, a resilient contact leaf spring 135 ismounted to frame 112 by small projections 118, 119 and 120, and

similarly resilient contact leaf spring 137 is supported by beingthreaded through small projections 121, 122 and 123. At the free end ofcontact leaf spring 135 is a curved portion or detent 138, and similarlyat the free end of contact leaf spring 137 is curved portion or detent139. When the switch pendulum 127 is in the stable position shown inFIG. 7 and in solid lines in FIG. 5, the switch is open because onlycurved portion 138 of leaf spring 135 is making electrical contact withthe pendulum. Therefore, the switch is in the open position because noelectrical connection is being made between the contact springs 135 and137. The switch pendulum 127 is held in the stable position by springportion 138 being received within and biased towards periphery notch133. However, when the switch is impacted causing pendulum 127 to swingdownwardly so that the leg 128 moves adjacent to projection 116, the leg129 is disposed with the contact leaf spring curved portion 139 biasedin the notch 133 thereby holding the pendulum in this stable positionwhile the contact leaf spring curve portion 138 is in engagement withthe periphery 132 of the leg 129 establishing an electric connectionbetween the two leaf springs via the pendulum 127. Therefore, when thependulum 127 is in the stable position shown by broken lines in FIG. 5,the switch is in the closed position.

In accordance with the present invention, the inertia switch assembly isinserted into housing 21 wherein it is disposed adjacent to switchsupporting wall portions 58 and 59 with the frame rib positioned in thegroove portion 55. To prevent any movement of the frame 112 with respectto the housing upper portion 26, a suitable solvent can be used to weldthe rib 125 to the groove portion 55. It should be appreciated that withthis construction that the pendulum 127 and contact springs and 137 aretrapped onto the frame 112 by means of the frame projections 114-116 and118-123 being conconveniently seen in FIG. 3.

To actuate the inertia switch assembly 112, it is merely necessary toimpact the housing 21 from the proper direction. More specifically, tostart the electric motor 65, the user impacts or taps inwardly in alongitudinal direction on the attachment 22 or the wall 39. The strikingof the attachment or the housing wall 39 causes the pendulum 127 to movedownwardly to the closed position shown in broken lines in FIG. 5 due tothe inertia force exerted primarily by the pendulum leg 129. Similarly,when it is desired to stop the motor 65, it is merely necessary to tapthe pedestal 33 with an inwardly longitudinally directed blow whichcauses the pendulum 127 to move upwardly as seen in FIG. 5 to theposition shown in solid lines, again due to the inertia force on thependulum. The amount of force necessary to cause the pendulum to move isdetermined to some extent by the tension between the pendulum and thecontact springs I35 and 137. The engagement between the spring detentI39 and the pendulum notch 133 when the switch is closed should besufficiently strong to prevent movement of the pendulum due to vibrationgenerated by the eccentric, but the engagement should be sufficientlyweak to permit movement of the pendulum when the housing is properlystruck. It has been found desirable to have the inertia switch activatedby a force equivalent to dropping the massager on one end from a 5 inchheight. With the inertia switch being totally enclosed within thehousing 21, the user can easily control the operation of the switch evenif his eyes are closed due to the use of soap in his hair.This can beaccomplished by the user merely tapping the easily distinguishable endsof the massager to activate the switch. The massager is constructed witha sealing arrangement to prevent the entrance of moisture. However, ifmoisture should enter into the housing or if the housing were to bebroken, there is no danger because the batteries are of such a lowvoltage that the user cannot detect any electrical energy when he shortsout the batteries. Another advantage of this massager is that thebatteries can be very easily and quickly replaced by merely unscrewingthe housing portions.

What we claim as new and desired to be secured by Letters Pat. of theUnited States is:

1. An electrically operated massager comprising a housing having an endon which a massaging element is secured and an opposite end adapted forsupporting said massager, motor means positioned within said housing forvibrating said massaging element, battery means disposed within saidhousing for supplying electrical power to said motor means, and switchmeans within said housing and in electrical connection with said motormeans and said battery means, said switch means being actuatable whensaid housing is impacted at one of said ends for starting said motormeans and being actuatable when said housing is impacted at the other ofsaid ends for stopping said motor.

2. The combination set forth in claim I, wherein said housing isseparable between said ends for providing 'access therein and saidhousing being electrically nonconductive.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, wherein said housing is formedwith integral means for releasably securing said massaging elementthereto.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch meansincludes an electrically conducting pendulum member pivotally mountedfor swinging between a stable position causing said switch means to beopen and another stable position causing said switch means to be closed,wherein the impacting of said housing ends can cause said member tochange stable positions.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2 including means disposed betweensaid housing ends for sealing said housing against the ingressing ofmoisture.

6. In an electric massager comprising a housing having a massagingelement on its exterior and enclosing motor means for vibrating saidelement, battery means within said housing for supplying power to saidmotor means, an inertia switch in said housing electrically connected tosaid battery means and motor means for controlling the power supplied tosaid motor means, said inertia switch being actuatable to permit powerto be supplied to said motor means when said housing is struck from onedirection and actuatable to prevent power from being supplied to saidmotor means when said housing is struck from the opposite direction.

7. In the massager of claim 6, wherein said inertia switch comprises anonconducting frame on which is pivotally mounted an electricallyconductable pendulum member, said frame provided with spaced abutmentmeans for limiting the are through which said member can pivot, a pairof spaced electrically conductable contact leaf springs biasing towardsaid member and spaced so that both springs are in engagement with saidmember when said member is in a stable position contiguous to one ofsaid abutment means, and only one spring is in engagement with saidmember when said member is in the other stable position contiguous tothe other of said abutment means.

8. In the massager of claim 7, wherein said springs are each formed witha detent portion, said member having recess means, one of said springdetent portions engaging said member recess means when said member is inone stable position and the other spring detent portion engaging saidmember recess means when said member is in the other stable position,the engagement between said spring detent portions and said memberrecess means being sufficiently strong to prevent movement of saidmember when said motor means is vibrating said element but theengagement being sufficiently weak to permit the movement of said memberwhen said housing is properly struck.

9. In the electric massager of claim 6, wherein said housing beingformed with an internal wall portion, said frame formed with integralprojection means extending from one side thereof, said projection meanssupporting said member and said springs, said frame positioned in saidhousing with said projection means extending toward said wall portion,housing means maintaining said frame contiguous to said wall portionwhereby said member and said springs are maintained on said projectionmeans.

10. An electric massager comprising a housing having a massaging elementon its exterior and enclosing motor means for vibrating said element, atleast two batteries positioned in said housing for supplying power tosaid motor means, a switch in said housing for electrically connectingsaid batteries and said motor means, said housing including separableportions with a first portion receiving said batteries and a secondportion supporting an electrically conducting plate adapted to makeelectrical contact with the ends of said batteries facing said plate,said plate being movable in the direction toward said batteries andbiased towards said batteries, said housing portions being in threadedengagement whereby said portions are rotated with respect to each otherfor locking engagement, said plate being secured to said second portionin such a manner as to prevent relative rotational displacement.

11. The electrical massager of claim 10, wherein said plate is formedwith protuberances extending toward said batteries, the threadedengagement between said housing portions being in such a manner that oneof said protuberances is in alignment with the center of each battery.

12 The electric massager of claim 11, wherein said plate is secured tosaid second portion so that said plate can pivot towards and away fromsaid batteries.

13. An electric massager comprising a hollow housing having a wall atone end on which a massager element is mountable, an electric motorpositioned in said housing and in driving relationship with an eccentricrotatably mounted on a shaft lying along the center line of said housingand of said wall, said shaft having one end anchored to said wallwhereby the rotation of said eccentric by said motor causes vibratoryforces to be transmitted to said element on said wall, battery means insaid housing for supplying power to said motor, and switch means totallyenclosed by said housing and electrically connecting said motor and saidbattery means for controlling the energization of said motor.

14. The electric massager of claim 13, wherein said shaft other end issupported by said motor, gearing means disposed between said motor andsaid eccentric for transmitting power from said motor to said eccentric.

15. The electric massager of claim 13, wherein said housing includesfirst and second portions which are separable to provide access to saidbattery means, said first housing portion including said wall anddefining means for receiving and supporting said motor, said switchmeans and said battery means, and spring means resiliently locking saidmotor within said first housing portion means.

16. The electric massager of claim 15, wherein said second housingportion being provided with a contact plate for making electricalcontact with said battery means, means biasing said plate against saidbattery means for making a good electrical contact therebetween andbiasing said battery means into said first housing portion means.

17. The electric massager of claim 15, wherein said housing is formed ofelectrically insulating material, seal means disposed between saidhousing portions to prevent the entrance of moisture within said housingwhereby said massager is adapted for use in a wet environment.

18. An electric massager comprising a hollow housing having a first endon which a massaging element is releasably mounted, motor means in saidhousing for vibrating said massaging element, battery means forsupplying power to said motor means, an inertia switch totally enclosedby said housing and electrically connecting said motor means and saidbattery means, said housing having a second end including a somewhatmushroom-shaped member extending away from said first end, said inertiaswitch being disposed so that the striking of either housing end canactuate said switch.

19. The electric massager of claim 18, wherein saidmushroom-shapedmember includes a stem portion and outer enlargedpedestal portion, said portions arranged to facilitate the grasping ofsaid massager wherein the user's finger can extend by each side of saidstem portion and under said pedestal portion while holding said secondend.

20. The electric massager of claim 19, wherein the outer surface of saidpedestal portion is flat and said massager is adapted to be in a stableupright storage position when said outer surface rests on a horizontalsurface, and said second end having a somewhat spherical portionadjacent said stem portion so that the user's fingers can easily graspsaid spherical portion. 5

1. An electrically operated massager comprising a housing having an endon which a massaging element is secured and an opposite end adapted forsupporting said massager, motor means positioned within said housing forvibrating said massaging element, battery means disposed within saidhousing for supplying electrical power to said motor means, and switchmeans within said housing and in electrical connection with said motormeans and said battery means, said switch means being actuatable whensaid housing is impacted at one of said ends for starting said motormeans and being actuatable when said housing is impacted at the other ofsaid ends for stopping said motor.
 2. The combination set forth in claim1, wherein said housing is separable between said ends for providingaccess therein and said housing being electrically nonconductive.
 3. Thecombination set forth in claim 2, wherein said housing is formed withintegral means for releasably securing said massaging element thereto.4. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch meansincludes an electrically conducting pendulum member pivotally mountedfor swinging between a stable position causing said switch means to beopen and another stable position causing said switch means to be closed,wherein the impacting of said housing ends can cause said member tochange stable positions.
 5. The combination set forth in claim 2including means disposed between said housing ends for sealing saidhousing against the ingressing of moisture.
 6. In an electric massagercomprising a housing having a massaging element on its exterior andenclosing motor means for vibrating said element, battery means withinsaid housing for supplying power to said motor means, an inertia switchin said housing electrically connected to said battery means and motormeans for controlling the power supplied to said motor means, saidinertia switch being actuatable to permit power to be supplied to saidmotor means when said housing is struck from one direction andactuatable to prevent power from being supplied to said motor means whensaid housing is struck from the opposite direction.
 7. In the massagerof claim 6, wherein said inertia switch comprises a nonconducting frameon which is pivotally mounted an electrically conductable pendulummember, said frame provided with spaced abutment means for limiting thearc through which said member can pivot, a pair of spaced electricallyconductable contact leaf springs biasing toward said member and spacedso that both springs are in engagement with said member when said memberis in a stable position contiguous to one of said abutment means, andonly one spring is in engagement with said member when said member is inthe other stable position contiguous to the other of said abutmentmeans.
 8. In the massager of claim 7, wherein said springs are eachformed with a detent portion, said member having recess means, one ofsaid spring detent portions engaging said member recess means when saidmember is in one stable position and the other spring detent portionengaging said member recess means when said member is in the otherstable position, the engagement between said spring detent portions andsaid member recess means being sufficiently strong to prevent movementof said member when said motor means is vibrating said element but theengagement being sufficiently weak to permit the movement of said memberwhen said housing is properly struck.
 9. In the electric massager ofclaim 6, wherein said housing being formed with an internal wallportion, said frame formed with integral projection means extending fromone side thereof, said projection means supporting said member and saidsprings, said frame positioned in said housing with said projectionmeans extending toward said wall portion, housing means maintaining saidframe contiguous to said wall portion whereby said member and saidsprings are maintained on said projection means.
 10. An electricmassager comprising a housing having a massagIng element on its exteriorand enclosing motor means for vibrating said element, at least twobatteries positioned in said housing for supplying power to said motormeans, a switch in said housing for electrically connecting saidbatteries and said motor means, said housing including separableportions with a first portion receiving said batteries and a secondportion supporting an electrically conducting plate adapted to makeelectrical contact with the ends of said batteries facing said plate,said plate being movable in the direction toward said batteries andbiased towards said batteries, said housing portions being in threadedengagement whereby said portions are rotated with respect to each otherfor locking engagement, said plate being secured to said second portionin such a manner as to prevent relative rotational displacement.
 11. Theelectrical massager of claim 10, wherein said plate is formed withprotuberances extending toward said batteries, the threaded engagementbetween said housing portions being in such a manner that one of saidprotuberances is in alignment with the center of each battery. 12 . Theelectric massager of claim 11, wherein said plate is secured to saidsecond portion so that said plate can pivot towards and away from saidbatteries.
 13. An electric massager comprising a hollow housing having awall at one end on which a massager element is mountable, an electricmotor positioned in said housing and in driving relationship with aneccentric rotatably mounted on a shaft lying along the center line ofsaid housing and of said wall, said shaft having one end anchored tosaid wall whereby the rotation of said eccentric by said motor causesvibratory forces to be transmitted to said element on said wall, batterymeans in said housing for supplying power to said motor, and switchmeans totally enclosed by said housing and electrically connecting saidmotor and said battery means for controlling the energization of saidmotor.
 14. The electric massager of claim 13, wherein said shaft otherend is supported by said motor, gearing means disposed between saidmotor and said eccentric for transmitting power from said motor to saideccentric.
 15. The electric massager of claim 13, wherein said housingincludes first and second portions which are separable to provide accessto said battery means, said first housing portion including said walland defining means for receiving and supporting said motor, said switchmeans and said battery means, and spring means resiliently locking saidmotor within said first housing portion means.
 16. The electric massagerof claim 15, wherein said second housing portion being provided with acontact plate for making electrical contact with said battery means,means biasing said plate against said battery means for making a goodelectrical contact therebetween and biasing said battery means into saidfirst housing portion means.
 17. The electric massager of claim 15,wherein said housing is formed of electrically insulating material, sealmeans disposed between said housing portions to prevent the entrance ofmoisture within said housing whereby said massager is adapted for use ina wet environment.
 18. An electric massager comprising a hollow housinghaving a first end on which a massaging element is releasably mounted,motor means in said housing for vibrating said massaging element,battery means for supplying power to said motor means, an inertia switchtotally enclosed by said housing and electrically connecting said motormeans and said battery means, said housing having a second end includinga somewhat mushroom-shaped member extending away from said first end,said inertia switch being disposed so that the striking of eitherhousing end can actuate said switch.
 19. The electric massager of claim18, wherein said mushroom-shaped member includes a stem portion andouter enlarged pedestal portion, said portions arranged to facilitatethe grasping of said massager wherein the user''S finger can extend byeach side of said stem portion and under said pedestal portion whileholding said second end.
 20. The electric massager of claim 19, whereinthe outer surface of said pedestal portion is flat and said massager isadapted to be in a stable upright storage position when said outersurface rests on a horizontal surface, and said second end having asomewhat spherical portion adjacent said stem portion so that theuser''s fingers can easily grasp said spherical portion.